January 14, 2025 / News, SafetyNet®

Cyberchat #11

Dear Friend,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Did you or your child receive a new device? Maybe there was a new video game that they really wanted, like how my sister wanted Mario Party. We reviewed these video game safety tips together before playing. I also reviewed the privacy settings of her gaming device to make sure everything was secure according to our preferences. Even through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and into the rush of the new year, SafetyNet® commits to staying on top of recent trends regarding our online safety. Below are just a few of the scams that caught our attention.

JESSICA BRAVO
SafetyNet® Bilingual Presenter


Watch Out for these Scams! 

Romance Scams

Recently, a local woman from Vista fell victim to a romance scam, losing her life savings. She now lives in her car. You may ask, what compelled her to give thousands of dollars away? She believed she was in a romantic relationship with famous actor Keanu Reeves and that he needed help financially.

If you are unfamiliar with romance scams, it is when a criminal uses a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. There have been several celebrity romance scams in the past, this is just a more recent example.

According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, $1.1 billion was lost to romance scams in the U.S. In 2023, San Diego County victims lost $1.3 million.

Before sending money to a stranger, make sure to watch for the signs. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Online Shopping Scams

During the holidays, online platforms including TikTok, Amazon, and Etsy advertised mugs made out of pure mineral crystal. You could buy them for loved ones as a gift. Their ethereal beauty seemed too good to be true…and it was. The mugs featured in the AI-generated video looked infinitely better than what arrived at buyers’ doorsteps. The actual product was a metal cup on the inside with poorly painted plastic resin on the outside. How do you avoid falling for a scam like this? If the product looks too perfect and the price is right, it’s probably a scam.

Jury Duty Scams

According to the San Diego Superior Court, scammers are calling individuals, telling them that they failed to appear for jury duty, and threatening arrest. Some of these scammers demand payment for a “failure to appear” fine or “contempt of court” fee with instructions to go to a convenience store to get a money order and meet someone outside the courthouse. The Court does not make telephone calls to ask for money or threaten arrest. Legitimate Court matters are handled via written notices. Those who receive these types of calls are encouraged to contact local law enforcement.

Lost Pet Scams

Has your pet ever gone missing? Losing your pet can be distressing and unfortunately, some criminals will try to take advantage of your desperation. The San Diego Humane Society recently warned the public of a scam in which people are posing as them and claim to have found missing pets. They then demand a digital transfer of money via Cash App or Zelle in order to reclaim a pet. These scam calls often come from blocked numbers or in some cases replicate the Humane Society’s main number. The San Diego Humane Society states, “We conduct our reclaims of lost pets in-person and we do not accept any payment except for in-person when that’s happening.”

Update on TikTok Ban

Has TikTok been officially banned in the U.S.? Not yet. As a refresher, in April of 2024 President Joe Biden signed legislation that would require TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app by January 19 due to its “national security risk.” Last week, representatives of ByteDance pleaded to the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the decision of the ban. A final decision has not yet been revealed. In anticipation of a TikTok ban, TikTok users are gravitating towards RedNote, another Chinese-owned social app.

What is President-elect Donald Trump’s position on the TikTok ban? In 2020, Trump supported the TikTok ban. However, last Friday he filed a brief with the Supreme Court asking the justices to pause a ban on TikTok so that he could “negotiate a resolution” to save the platform. If enacted, the ban would take into effect on January 19; Trump returns as President on January 20. We will provide another update in our next issue.

Resources

OurPact’s Automated Schedules 

As the winter holidays come to a close, it’s time for us to settle back into our regular routines for the rest of the school year. As parents, we know that transitioning from holiday mode to normal schedules can be challenging. Maintaining consistent schedules helps make these transitions smoother.

Schedules are essential in helping children develop healthy routines and habits. Creating a regular schedule for our teens ensures they get enough sleep to stay productive and healthy. Families should consider not only daily activities but also screen time when planning these schedules. With OurPact’s Automated Schedules, you can set healthy device limits for your child—helping your entire family maintain a balanced life, all with just a few taps. Learn more here.


SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® is a collaborative program of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SD-ICAC) and the San Diego Police Foundation. It is designed to help kids, parents, educators, and concerned adults learn how to keep kids safe online.